A 40-something Western Canadian who still thinks he's 24. Dreamer, thinker, photographer, traveler, entrepreneur, software developer. Adores women immensely but is still working hard at trying to understand them! :-)

This is my personal blog and primarily focuses on my photography & videography.

“Attendees at the rally Saturday largely honored organizer requests that they not bring banners or political signs. Instead, the predominantly white crowd, many seated on folding chairs and accompanied by their children, wore t-shirts with slogans including ‘Got principles?’ and ‘Restoring Honor.’” — AFP

“Beck says he and his overwhelmingly white followers ‘are the inheritors and protectors of the civil- rights movement.’” — Ben Adler, Newsweek

“Though the audience at the event was overwhelmingly white, many of the speakers were African-American, including a woman who sang a song about unity.” — Brian Montopoli, CBS

“Claiming the legacy of the nation’s Founding Fathers and repeatedly evoking civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., the speakers at the ‘Restoring Honor’ rally exhorted a vast and overwhelmingly white crowd to concentrate not on the history that has scarred the nation but instead on what makes it ‘good.’” — Philip Rucker & Carol Morello, Washington Post

“The speaker list was diverse, including African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans; Jews and Christians; clergymen, military veterans and sports stars, including Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. The crowd, however, was overwhelmingly white.” — Michael A. Memoli and Kim Geiger, LA Times

“Out in the overwhelmingly white audience… politics was everywhere, with Tea Party supporters describing the damage they envision for President Barack Obama’s Democrats in upcoming midterm elections in November.” — Mitch Potter, Toronto Star

Here's a brilliant column by Susan Jacoby. It touches upon a point that Dennis Prager makes all the time, which is that for the Left the most important Principle of all is Equality. And those who believe in Equality are not allowed to judge anyone else for anything. Nada. Never.

This is precisely why you rarely, if ever, hear any official groups on the Left criticize Radical Islam or any of their barbaric practices.

What I found amusing were 3 of the first 4 comments after the article. Each author claims to be a liberal but then goes on to state that Ms. Jacoby is full of nonsense. In point of fact, if you are willing to speak out about things like female genital mutilation then you are passing judgment on Islam and are thus not following the #1 tenet of Leftism. Which, by definition, makes you not a Leftist. I wonder what percentages of people who proudly declare themselves to be liberals / progressives / on the Left are really not when push comes to shove? But they prefer to think of themselves that way because it makes them feel better.

Conrad Black has some startling words for all Americans. Hopefully this will be one of many wake-up calls for a great people in what could once again be a great nation.

Black's detractors will of course dismiss his words outright because of his [questionable] prison sentence but this is only doing themselves a disservice. For read carefully and you will see that he has harsh words for both Bush presidents and Clinton too.

What's clear is that the Republican Party has an enormous challenge ahead to find a great presidential candidate. Not another McCain, not Sarah Palin, not someone who is "less worse" than the current guy. Are they up to the task? Only time will tell. It'll be most interesting to see what candidates come to the fore next year, as the 2012 election cycle begins.

The following is a copy of an open public Facebook discussion. I am reposting it to show others the thinking of what I am assured is an intelligent, sane Woman of the Left. Her name is Mary Morris and she is a proud member of the Democrat Party.

Just in case the leftist media continues to ignore the attendance of today's rally...according to Park Police the attendance was more than 500k...who I'm sure will all be labeled racists for attending.

Mary Morris Beck is a racist Mormon. For 150 years the LDS says "all blacks are cursed, cannot hold an LDS priesthood and cannot enter the Temple" and on and on......Come on Mike change the FACTS of history..............

3 hours ago · ·

Mary Morris If that many people came to hear that racist, hate monger, we are in trouble because we have way to many idiots here in the USA..........

Greg Schnakenberg I have personally never heard a racist, hateful or unkind word come out of his mouth. I dont know where he stands with God, but he is a patriot. The word says, you will find God when you seek Him with all your heart, He seems to be seeking him earnestly, so he may not be far from the kingdom, if he's not there already.

Robert Werner Mary, you really need to look in the mirror sometime. The vile, nasty stuff that you post here on Facebook is more bigoted than most any other comments I ever see anywhere on the Internet. Seriously, a LITTLE kindness & compassion from you once in a while would be a pleasant change.

2 hours ago · ·

Chris Hirsch Mary, try to escape the cloudy bubble of hate you live in. You might even find you can be a happy person someday.

The ONLY hate I have is for people that are Racist and hide behind their religion....You want kindness and compassion from me for BECK???The man spews hate on a daily basis and you want to turn that around and say it is me...You are delusio...nal.....I am probably one of the happiest people you will NEVER meet, but I am very passionate about anyone that spews racism. The vile, nasty stuff I post is ONLY about racist and I am proud to do it and call you out on it........Why hasn't anyone said how wrong I am about the Mormon Church and it's beliefs???See More

2 hours ago · ·

Chris Hirsch Mary, I feel sorry for you. I hope you find peace one day. I wonder what turned you into such an angry soul.

2 hours ago · ·

Mary Morris The racist white man is the ONLY thing that makes me angry and you cannot stand being called out on it..Peace, I know.........Just like I know a racist..........

about an hour ago · ·

Chris Hirsch Now Mary, you are not calling me out on anything. Just calm down and try to be reasonable. You harbor such extreme prejudice against others for their religious beliefs. Is that what your beliefs teach you? Maybe you will never see the light that others bask in. So sorry for you.

Mary Morris I do NOT care what anyones belief is as long as they keep it to themselves and not try to say you are going to hell if you do not believe the way they do. God is NOT a Racist. Jesus is not a racist. The LDS preaches racism...How can you say I will NEVER see the light? ONLY God can judge a heart and soul......I see perfectly clear. I can spot a racist anywhere............usually hiding behind some scripture...

about an hour ago · ·

Chris Hirsch My God does not teach one to be so hateful. I know nothing of the Mormon faith but I know Mormons and NOT A ONE OF THEM think the way you pretend to know they do. Mary, how many Mormons do you know? How many have you allowed to be your friend? You should step back and take a good look at yourself. Learn from what you see.

about an hour ago · ·

Mary Morris Chris, it is called reading. That is how I know what the LDS believes. If i make a comment about something I check it out first.Beck is a Mormon, so he probably believes what the church preaches..Duh..........I do not want to be friends with any racist...Period.And how dare you pull the hate card on me...I am not preaching hate . I am calling out people who hate..........A big difference.....Stop twisting my words to make your point. Your point that does not make sense..........

Mary, how you can categorize ALL Mormons like that boggles my mind. You do understand that by doing so you fit the textbook definition of a bigot, right? If you don't believe me, look up the word.

When I hear you make such statements I jus...t substitute in any of the following words to provide a litmus test of what you're saying: Asian, Muslim, Black, American. You are committing exactly the same atrocity that you attribute to all Mormons.

I'm not a particularly religious person, but my encounters with Mormons, be it on the street or at an airport or at their facility in Hawaii has all been positive; a little too preachy for my tastes but I detected no animus on their parts. By the way, the Mormons at the Polynesian Village on Oahu come in all shapes & sizes & colours. The notion that you've asserted that they're all a bunch of racists is beyond laughable.

Mary, does the LDS church still forbid blacks from the priesthood? Do some reading of your own. It's all a red herring for you anyway...you don't like conservatives or their politics and you hide your contempt for Beck and the conservatives... behind his cult and its' followers. Nevermind that Christians could and do share several important ethics and beliefs about morality with Christians, Jews, Catholics, and agnostics...they're mostly conservatives in a religion that's past is full of hypocrisy...kind of like the Catholic church.See More

about an hour ago · ·

Chris Hirsch OK Mary, I can see a civil discussion with you is not possible. I am so sorry you are so riled up. Once again, I am sorry for you. You have blinded yourself and can't see reality. You seem like an intelligent person but the inner anger is really putting a damper on your ability to reason. Now, I am through with you. I do not debate with angry people. Try to have a good life.

I am quoting the LDS writings, nothing more....I am NOT hiding my contempt for Beck behind anything but waht he says....I do NOT like much about organized religion because man and his ego are involved. I care about people. You know, hungry ...babies, sick people, homeless people, old people, people getting killed for greed, minorites that do not get a fair shake because of their skin. That's what I CARE about..Mostly people that the Right doesn't care about. That is my passion. You know the same things Jesus talks about!!!!!!!!!!!!!See More

‎"Mostly people that the Right doesn't care about" That is a lie! You spread lies! I do not care for liars ma'am and you are spreading lies. I have lost the last shred of respect I had for you. Go away and live in your tormented little ...world. Or......try to learn the truth. You are an angry, blind, tormented person. Quit lying to others and especially yourself. OPEN YOUR EYES and see the world as it is, not as you see from within you angry bubble. I am so sorry for having to put it to you this way but you called me out when you accused me of not caring about anything. You are an elitist, judgmental, sad person that has allowed your inner anger to rule your thoughts. It's a shame. a damn shame. See More

The first fellow is just a typical Leftist, so full of condescending disdain for anyone who "dares" disagree with him. His narrow-minded brain can't accept that someone wanting smaller, responsible government is anything but mentally ill. Ironically his forefathers in the 1960's would have been shocked that someone like him would have been so deeply in favor of corrupt, incompetent, never-ending government.

Catching up on John Batchelor podcasts this evening I heard something startling from Thursday night. Guest James Taranto, of the Wall Street Journal, suggested that Enright's attack may very well have been a "false flag" operation of his own making. In other words, the Depraved Leftist may have intended to slash the driver's throat, then escape, leaving the impression that a Conservative / Tea Party Member / Republican had done the dirty deed. He was caught though and so this has changed everything. You can listen to the entire segment here and decide for yourself.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Today I heard a caller to Dennis Miller's show pose an interesting question to Ground Zero Mosque supporters: "If a group called 'Nazis For Christ' wanted to open up an Outreach & Understanding venue beside the Simon Wiesenthal Center, would you support that?"

Let me add another example to nail the point home: If a group called "Christians Who Think The Crusades Were Pretty Cool" wanted to open up a Tolerance Center beside an existing Muslim Mosque, would you support that?

I wouldn't support either of these initiatives and for EXACTLY THE SAME REASON is why I don't support the Ground Zero Mosque planned in its proposed location.

Lest anyone has forgotten what happened on September 11, 2001, perhaps it's long overdue to remember:

I've noticed a few Leftist hacks on assorted blogs trying to assert that the views of the [highly political] police chiefs represent the views of police officers across the country. I don't know if this is deliberate deception on the part of the Leftists or just their regular ignorance at work, but the implication is absolutely FALSE.

If you'd like to hear how average police officers feel about the Gun Registry then listen to this segment from Roy Green hosting Adler's show on Tuesday. It will shed more than a little light on this entire subject!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

There is at least one outspoken Muslim in America who "gets" it. His name is Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and here's his website. He appears quite frequently on Dennis Miller's radio program and stated the other day that he has never received any threats for speaking out as he does.

To show you how incredibly unhinged Leftists are becoming as November comes closer, read this piece.

It's about Alaskan Joe Miller's "imminent" defeat "by a wide margin". This screed was written just the day before the Primary so the author, Alexandra Gutierrez, had access to all the latest poll data. Yet she was psychologically unable to veer off of her predetermined narrative that Miller was going to be decimated and decided to hang his defeat on Sarah Palin and The Tea Party.

Now that she is absolutely wrong (even if Miller loses by a hair, Gutierrez is still absolutely wrong), she can't do the honourable thing and offer up a mea culpa: http://twitter.com/alexgutierrez

P.S. Bonus points if you join Slate's Facebook group and read the comments therein about this story. There you will find true Kool-Aid nutters who rival the very worst you've ever read on the Daily Kos.

I have a slightly different take than her. I don't think the biggest challenge we North Americans face is from whiny or obstinate immigrants. Rather our greatest problem of all is the Politically Correct Radical Left who, for decades, have been telling immigrants:

You don't need to assimilate

You don't need to learn English (or French in Quebec)

You don't need adopt our values of decency and respect and law & order

I believe most immigrants have ignored such messages but too many have not. This is why we have freighters arriving off of B.C. with queue jumpers. This is why we have workers at Disneyland demanding that that they can wear costumes completely foreign to the Disneyland experience. This is why we have an obnoxious minority thinking it's perfectly okay to step on the graves of 9/11 victims.

Ingraham may very well be correct that a tipping point has been reached where average people are no longer going to be cowed into silence with phony charges of Racism/Bigotry/Hatred and instead are going to stand firm and say, "No, YOU are the insensitive one who is disrespecting me, my values, and the values this nation you now live in were founded upon!"

I certainly hope we've reached that point for it's the only way we have a shot at a harmonious future.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I've been doing a lot of reading about the proposed Ground Zero Mosque, both for and against. There's not a lot of tolerance or sensitivity shown here! In case you're not on Facebook and can't view that link, it's in reference to this editorial by Reza Aslan. Here's a sampling of the comments on that Facebook page:

Mojgan Ghaemmaghami: they're not mainstream Americans, just a bunch of loud xenophobes with a lot of free time backed by big money. (the "they" she refers to are the 2/3 of Americans that polls say object to the mosque being built in the planned location)

Arash Abdi its kind of cool going out and looking overly muslim knowing that almost half the people in our communities don't like us w/out a viable reason.

Lisa J. Keating I was under the naive belief that under the Obama presidency the fear mongering we were drowned with during G.W. Bush's terms would dissipate. I am at a loss over the level of hypocrisy, hatred and ignorance that seems to be dominating our country. The irony is that like most extreme systems of belief, protecting America from Islam is in the name of God (the Christian one).

Fatima Fravashi If it makes anyone feel better, phobias are not isolated to islam, there are many who have a phobia of new ideas or of things they don't understand. So let our actions & ideas produce understanding, rather than stooping to the level of the ...ignorant. The truth is, America needs Islam to be a more balanced society, Islam can be America's savior.

Ron McKee Your presentation on NPR was well thought out and spoke. I apologize to you personally on behalf of my country and it's people. Thank you for pointing out the primary group that is funding and organizing the protests at Ground Zero and conn...ecting them to their sister group in Europe.

Sharon Orser Unfortunately I'm afraid that a lot of problems stem from the American educational system. When I was in school...back in the dark ages...all US history was taught from a strictly white, northern European, primarily protestant perspective.... The same was basically true when my kids were in school, with a little more lip service paid to diversity and more tempered religious view. The religion was not overt, but it was still there. Textbooks were, and perhaps still are, written to pass the judgement of a few of conservative Baptists in Texas without whose approval those books wouldn't get published. As a result, we have generations of people in this country whose educations have been sorely lacking. Couple that with the hysterical rantings heard on Fox news which gains ratings from generating fear, and the hate mongers have fertile fields in which to plant their seeds of xenophobia.

Thought experiment: If Timothy McVeigh's family & friends proposed to build a "Healing and Understanding Center" just two blocks from the Oklahoma City bombing, would the supporters of the Ground Zero Mosque support it? Those folks might have the best intentions in the world but that doesn't lessen one iota their intentions from being completely misguided & wrong.

Yet in the case of the mosque, we're constantly being told that anyone who disagrees with it, exactly as planned, is a Hater/Bigot/Racist/Islamaphobe. I wonder if those so casually making such charges have ever looked in the mirror and seen their own lack of tolerance and compassion?

Monday, August 23, 2010

"Interesting" woman. At one point she talks about tolerance and mutual respect. Then later she states that Americans objecting to the building of the mosque on the outer edge of Ground Zero is "beyond Islamophobia" and represents "hate of Muslims". That's sure an interesting version of "tolerance" for the opinion of others.

Even with Daisy Khan stating unequivocally that the vast majority of Americans are hatemongers, the U.S. State Department is paying for her to travel around the world talking with other Muslims about what life is like in America. I'm not kidding.

In another interview Daisy Khan said: "We want to build bridges. We don't want to create conflict." She has a very strange way of showing that.

The most comprehensive discussion on the story behind this entire story can be heard here. Just click on "Listen Here" and move the slider to 17:10. You'll hear John Batchelor interviewing Claudia Rosett.

I recently discovered a great podcast called "American Conservative University". It's a collection of selected talk show segments and lectures. I access it via iTunes but you can also listen to all the offerings here.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Roy Green had a fascinating discussion today with John Wright (beginning at 34:05) about the forthcoming financial crisis & debate in Canada.

Are most Canadians ready for this new reality? Not a chance. Sadly, I predict that a responsible reaction to this reality will bring down right-of-centre governments across our country and bring in ones on the left that will borrow-borrow-borrow to delay the inevitable.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Here's a beautiful & touching video showing American soldiers coming back to their families from overseas. It is especially touching for me having recently read "Joker One", which talks in depth about an average American soldier's attempts to provide democracy & liberty to the people of Iraq ... even if said people weren't very appreciative of their efforts much of the time, at least in the early days.

Lest we forget, the brave men & women in the video are over there on behalf of us and need to be applauded and thanked for their selfless service on a regular basis!

P.S. I was recently in Butte, Montana and saw a young soldier gassing up his vehicle. I went up to him and said these simple words: "Though I'm Canadian, I'd like you to thank you for your service." He was most appreciative.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Yesterday in a Bellingham, Washington parking lot I saw a family with BC plates with this Tamil Tigers symbol plastered on their car. I wasn't so much offended by that as I was by the father's incredibly poor & dangerous driving!!! (I should have taken a video to prove that he must have got his driver's license out of a Cracker Jack box!)

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Here is a brilliant and well researched article about Paul Krugman. I've long been suspicious about the intelligence of his views. He has been the Poster Boy for Leftist Economics for some time now. And finally, FINALLY all of his theories have been proven to be ABSOLUTE FAILURES!!!

Many comments were cited in the piece but my absolute favourite comes from a Leftist supporter of Krugman. It reads:

"Who is this Sean from Florida? He takes everything that [the] Professor [says] and shreds it, piece by piece. He shouldn't be allowed to post his comments on this blog since he seems to be winning all the debates. We progressives need to stick together and embellish our talking points without someone from the outside pointing out fallacies in our ideology."

Now, of course, this might have been written tongue-in-cheek. Either way, what has been clear for some time is that Leftist economic policies are complete nonsense. They're based entirely on Hope rather than Facts and Logic and Common Sense. Yet, once they're exposed as the failures they are, all Leftists want to do is shut up their critics rather than adjust their own thinking. But they never lose the audacity to keep calling themselves "Progressives". That's beyond sad.

Monday, August 02, 2010

I got up early this morning and successfully put in a lot of work. When my focus became cloudy (in a proverbial sense) I knew it was time to take a much needed break in the afternoon. So I went for a walk and came across these beautiful flowers.

Local Vancouver Time

Common Sense Quotations

Current Weather

Current Vancouver Weather

Burrard Street Bridge

Downtown Vancouver

Lions Gate Bridge

Iron Workers Memorial Bridge

About Moi

"Pelalusa" is a glorious Spanish-sounding word that means ... well ... absolutely nothing! The word doesn't actually exist. But it sure sounds like it means something!!
While living in Mexico City in 1996/97 I would often ask my friends the meaning of this word and that. One day I asked what "pelalusa" meant, for it just 'sounded' like a word that would mean something en Español. But alas, it does not.

What's With The Ads?

I've launched a new website called Pelalusa.com. Eventually it'll become a fully fledged social networking site but for now it's just a fun travel site, showcasing my journeys and photography. I hope you enjoy it and I always welcome suggestions to improve it.

This new site will be advertising sponsored. What's different about it though is that 50% of the profits (eventually increasing towards 100%) will be donated to philanthropic efforts such as BC Digital Divide. It'll be a global effort, with a particular focus on technology and education.

So I decided to also allow the ads on here too. Please know that I have no control over their content. If some ad does catch your interest, at least you know where the money will be going.

Day & Night

Favourite Quotes

When I was around 12 years old I wrote the following: "Too many get caught up in the noise of everyday life to hear the symphony of what life is really all about."

"The bigger the government grows, the smaller the individual becomes." -- Dennis Prager

"When you take away a person's need to provide for themselves, you take away their humanity." -- Damon Rexroad

"Life is a gift, not an obligation. So make the very best of every single day you're given!" - Donovan Campbell

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money to spend." -- Margaret Thatcher

"You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream-the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits." -- Ronald Reagan

Archive.org

If you'd like to see an amazing site that is full of old commercials, radio programs, and a host of other fascinating memorabilia then click here.

The Cluetrain Manifesto

The Internet is causing an amazing transition to occur about how individuals interact with the companies that they buy from and work for. Most companies are still in denial about even the presence of this change, much to their own peril.
Shown here are the 95 Theses' of the Cluetrain Manifesto:

Smile Time

Multimedia

I've collected together a number of my best flower photos. Each of them has more than sufficient resolution for printing, even as an enlargement. You can download a 46MB Zip file containing many photos by clicking on this image: